STONEWALL — St. Vital skip Jennifer Jones already ranks as one of the best skips in the world — ever.

In fact, Manitoba legend Connie Laliberte suggested she is better than the likes of Gustafson, Norberg and even Schmirler — but only because Jones has been able to be better for longer.

But when you’re already a proven player, you need challenges to keep on top of your game. Well, this past season has been nothing but challenges.

Sure, everyone knows by now how she overcame off-season knee surgery and rebounded from giving birth to her first child. Before that, Jones got emotional when people started prying into her private life and her latest romance.

Not only is that all behind her now, Jones has emerged with a new lease on life. The famous curling mother may have been away from the competitive scene for half a season but she was still determined to return to the form that resulted in four Canadian crowns and one world title in the last 12 years. She wasn’t going to come back just throw rocks and get embarrassed.

On Sunday, Jones defeated Assiniboine Memorial’s tough Barb Spencer 9-3 — a score that belies the closeness of the game — in the Scotties Tournament of Hearts final before a large crowd at Veterans Memorial Sports Complex. It was her record sixth Manitoba title as a skip, passing Laliberte (the record is seven for a non-skip).

“It’s very exciting,” said lead Dawn Askin. “It’s awesome, with Jen overcoming her surgery and having Isabella a few months ago and it all coming together, and she played phenomenal. She had a great event and I think it far exceeded the expectation of everybody. I’m so proud of her. She really worked hard to get back to where she needs to be.”

It seems like it even exceeded the skipper’s expectations.

“I’m so proud of us to come back,” Jones said. “I didn’t play in the fall and to come back after my injury and have the girls play so well.”

Jones was asked if it was more special because she won as a mother for the first time.

“It’s not different because I’m a mom,” she said. “We worked so hard to make sure we played well in this provincial and I thought it was our best provincial from start to finish. Considering all the obstacles we we went through this year, I can’t say enough about how proud I am of the team. It’s probably the most emotional win I’ve ever had.”

Jones, 38, was fighting back tears at this point.

“I think every obstacle thrown at us is kind of a good thing,” said third Kaitlyn Lawes. “We can only learn from them and we get stronger as a team.”

It was an emotional loss for Spencer.

“I struggled in this morning’s game as well and I didn’t catch on to the weight,” said Spencer. “I had good draw weight all week and I don’t know what happened. It just wasn’t there today.”

Jones cracked a three in the eight to take a 7-3 lead after Spencer’s attempted freeze sailed through the house.

Also supported by second Jill Officer, Jones will represent Manitoba at the national Scotties Tournament of Hearts, to be played in Kingston, Ont., Feb. 16-24. It will the 10th trip — and ninth straight to the nationals for Jones, who lost the final two years ago and settled for bronze last year.

“We’re always hungry,” Jones said. “There’s nothing better than playing in the Scotties. It’s the epitome of sport for us, for women’s curling. We want to go there, make the playoffs and hopefully play well and come out as champions and if we don’t, at least give it a good try.”

Spencer had advanced to the final with a 6-3 victory over Pinawa’s surprising Colleen Kilgallen in the semifinal.

Jennifer Jones wins Scotties Tournament of Hearts

STONEWALL — St. Vital's Jennifer Jones just added another mark in the curling history book.

Jones cracked a three in the eighth end to take a 7-3 lead, then downed Assiniboine Memorial's Barb Spencer 9-3 in the Scotties Tournament of Hearts final at the Veterans Memorial Sports Complex on Sunday.

It was a record sixth Manitoba title for a Manitoba skip, who defended her title.

Supported by third Kaitlyn Lawes, second Jill Officer and Dawn Askin, Jones will represent Manitoba at the national Scotties Tournament of Hearts, to be played in Kingston, Ont., Feb. 16-24.

It will the 10th trip to the nationals for Jones, who has won a Manitoba record four Canadian crowns.

Spencer had advanced to the final with a 6-3 victory over Pinawa's surprising Colleen Kilgallen in the semifinal.